How to travel to Ladakh under a budget of 20,000 INR

(Note: A lot has changed since I first wrote this blog. From this year onwards, domestic tourists are also required to acquire Protected Area Permits (PAP) from the DC Office in Leh. The transportation & accommodation costs have also gotten a bit pricey, but never the less Ladakh is still Ladakh and is definitely an incredible place to be at).

For all those wanting to travel to Ladakh, this is how you can do it under a budget of 20,000 INR.

This land of wonder had been on my visit list of dreamy places for over 3 years. Considering all the packages I came across on the internet, it took me 3 months of working in a call center to arrange 60,000 INR to make this dream come through.

August 2015, I finally set out solo to the land that was keeping me awake for years. Traveling from flights to buses, cars, and motorbikes, dozing off with a million stars, sleeping in different locations every night and waking up to barren mountains every day, this was indeed a journey of a lifetime.

Renting a Bike in Leh

You can get a Royal Enfield Classic 350 for 1500 INR a day or a 500 cc for 1700 INR (No Deposits Needed). Depending on the model and make of the bike you rent, it is advised you carry extra fuel for those extra miles as reliable petrol pumps are only available in Leh (Note: They are other bikes available for cheaper rent).

Hiring a Taxi in Leh

Just walk across the travel agencies in Leh, they all have notice boards put up for people wanting to share taxis. Below are the estimated return prices for an XUV;

Day 1: Delhi to Manali: You will get an A/c Semi-Sleeper Volvo ranging from INR 1200 to INR 1400.

Day 2:Arrive in Manali: You can easily get a guest house costing around INR 400-500 near Mall Road and Old Manali.

Day 3: Manali to Leh: The Himachal Tourism Bus (Manali to Leh) is the most comfortable way to cover this stretch. The bus departs at 09:00 hrs and arrives Leh at around 19:00 hrs the next day. Costing INR 2700, it proffers a night halt at Keylong that includes your dinner and breakfast as well (accommodation in 4 & 6-bed dorms).

Adding to the advantage pool are those 10 minutes halts at all the major engrossing locations on this stretch.

Day 4: Arrive in Leh: You will find many homestays which in my opinion are the best options to stay in Ladakh as they are easy on pockets, beneficial to the locals as well as conveniently accessible, serving almost everywhere in the city. Price for a homestay ranges from 450 INR for single room to 800 INR for double.

My personal favorite home stay in Leh was at Greenland Guest House on Changspa Road, near the Changspa Bridge opposite Cafe de Leh.

Greenland Guest House in Leh

Day 5: Explore Leh. Fall in for a jaunt of exploration with beautiful stopovers like the Leh Palace, Leh Market, Jama Masjid, Shanti Stupa, Hall of Fame, or maybe just a walk around this lovely town.

The Gorgeous Leh Palace (Altitude 11,500 ft.)

Day 6: Leh to Tso Pangong, approximately 160 km’s via Chang La Pass.

Chang La Pass (Altitude 17,688 ft.)

Tso Pangong: Lukung offers you basic stay options for INR 400-500. Spangmik which is some 8 km’s ahead, offers Homestays for INR 1500 and Luxury Tents for INR 5500 that includes your dinner & breakfast. Embrace yourself for some astonishing fireworks in the sky at night (Note: These are the standard prices, but you can always bargain for better deals).

The Beautiful Tso Pangong (Altitude 14, 270 ft.)

Tso Pangong (Altitude 14, 270 ft.)

Day 7: After breakfast return to Leh, evening at leisure.

The view from Shanti Stupa in Leh (Altitude 11,500 ft.)

Day 8: River Rafting at Indus or Zanskar River will cost around 1600 INR the Rapids might not turn out to be that adventuresome, but the view is totally worth it (Note: Body surfing here is much more fun).

Tso Moriri – Homestays and Luxury Tents are available at Korzok (Note: Riding here is personally not advised as it’s a remote area and the roads are in a bad shape. It’s also one of the longest journey’s you will be making).

Paradise is right here on Earth. Tso Moriri (Altitude 14,836 ft)

(Note: There’s a state bus from Leh to Tso Moriri on the 10th, 20th & 30th of every month. Cost 370 INR one way)

Day 12: After breakfast return to Leh, evening at leisure.

Day 13: Depart Leh: Check for flight fares from Srinagar to your home destination, if they are cheap you can return via Srinagar. If not, return the same way via Manali (Note: Flying out from Srinagar is way cheaper then compared to flying out from Leh).

A shared taxi to Srinagar will cost around INR 2000-2300. The taxi departs Leh at 17:00 hrs and arrives in Srinagar by 09:00 hrs (Note: A guest house in Srinagar near Dal Lake will cost around INR 300-400, wherein a boat house will cost around INR 800 for a double room).

Day 14: Arrive in Srinagar: Explore Srinagar.

Day 15: Take a flight back to your home destination (Note: If you want to save days, then be wise and book your return tickets from Leh well in advance).

A humble request – Garbage disposal in the region is a major issue. Please carry your trash with you and dispose it at the appropriate place.

It is mandatory for Foreigners as well as Domestic Indian Tourists to obtain a Protected Area Permit or also known as Inner Line Permit for visiting some of the protected areas of Ladakh such as: Nubra Valley, Tso Pangong, Tso Moriri, etc.

The Protected Area Permit can be obtained directly from the District Magistrate Office in Leh or through any local travel agent. PAP’s are valid for a period of 7 days and can be extended for INR 20 a day.

Plastic covers or polythene is banned all over Ladakh and hence avoid using them.

Ladakh is a fragile ecological region. Carry back plastic waste, worn out batteries etc as much as possible to larger cities that have safer systems to manage such waste.

Don’t waste water as Ladakh has huge shortage of water.

You would be checking-in and checking-out every day while you visit various places. Carry your luggage in backpacks instead of a suitcase.

For your safety and comfort we advise you to not trouble the cab driver as any requests to drive the car will not be entertained.

Avoid tinned and packaged food and prefer local hygienic food which comes in environmental friendly bags.

Don’t throw rubbish or waste but put them in dust bins provided in guest houses/camps/monasteries/tourist spots, etc. Please dispose plastic bottles appropriately and not throw them in lakes, rivers or streams.

Use environmental friendly toilets.

Tourists are required to obtain permits to visit various places in Ladakh. To get the permits Domestic tourist requires their Aadhaar Card. Foreigners require their passports.

Foreigners holding diplomatic/official passport and citizens of the following countries: Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, Myanmar and foreign nationals of Pakistani origin, need to approach the Ministry of Home Affairs at least eight weeks before the date of the expected visit.

AMS is a short form for Acute Mountain Sickness. AMS is the effect on the body when it is exposed to a high altitude environment. This is due to the lower level of oxygen at that altitude and the body’s inability to cope with rapid change in oxygen levels.

AMS impacts a person at altitudes above 8,000 feet (2440 meters). The occurrence of AMS depends on the altitude, the rate of ascent, and the individual ability to cope with lower oxygen levels.

Symptoms of AMS

Symptoms of mild AMS are dizziness, headache, muscle ache, insomnia, nausea, loss of appetite, rapid heartbeat, and shortness of breath with physical exertion and swelling of hands, feet and face.